One Man's thoughts, rants, and mumblings on family, life, and baseball.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

She's growing up and I'm growing old.

12 years ago tomorrow I fell in love for the second time in my life. Head over heels, heart stopping, anxiety inducing full on in love.

'Cause tomorrow afternoon at 12:58 p.m. marks the 12th year since the day my daughter came into this world and completely stole my heart away.

It's hard to believe she's a teenager now; seems like just yesterday I was rocking her to sleep and reading her stories and just sitting for hours with her curled up in my arms.

She still holds my hand in public and lets me say prayers with her at night and she's always the first one to run to the door to give me a hug and a kiss when I get home every night.

I DO realize it won't stay that way, more than likely. She'll get more independent and more into her friends, and God Help me, one day soon some young punk is going to come pick her up for a date and I'm gonna have to use every ounce of restraint I have in me not to kick him in the marbles and send him on his way.

I realize now what my Dad used to tell me about my sisters, that no matter how old they get or how old YOU get they will always and forever be your little girl. I couldn't be prouder of mine; in fact, I think she's the smartest, prettiest and sweetest 12 year old I've ever seen.

Don't rush it - she's not a teenager yet, there's no TEEN in twelve, but beware - there is in thirTEEN.

Enjoy it while you can (speaking from experience) - it's going to get intense when she's 16, not sure how I made it through those years without killing most of the little bastards that came sniffing around the house.

I'm sure you've raised her right and she'll make the right choices, I have to admit that Shannon did (for the most part), she got married earlier this year, happy endings all around...

Becky and Stacy, I'll pass along the well wishes. And thanks for the advice, BB. You know how much I admire you and your family so if it's coming from you I'll definitely take it to heart. But yeah; not sure how I'm going to keep from breaking bad on some kid. Guess I'll just take it as it comes.